Bergeron writes about local, state & national topics, as well as other matters of interest.

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McConnell Retires to the Bay State

Monday’s Courier News article by Martin C. Bricketto about Rose McConnell held one item that especially caught my eye: where she chose to retire. After serving many years in public office in Somerset County NJ, McConnell moved to Groton, Massachusetts to be near her family.

Coincidentally, Groton is less than half an hour from our old stomping grounds in Lowell. Priscille and I remember it fondly as one of those quaint, quintessential New England communities.

Indeed, on our way back from vacationing in New Hampshire this summer, we stopped in Massachusetts to visit with two of Priscille’s nieces and their families, one of whom relocated from Lowell to Groton with her husband and children. With a population of about 11,000 in an area of 33 square miles, it’s one of those small big New England towns ideal for raising a family.

The entire area – geographically, politically, and socially – is very different from what former Somerset County Freeholder, Rose McConnell, has been accustomed to in this part of New Jersey.

One example: Groton operates under an open town meeting form of government – once each year the budget plan is presented to voters at a town hall meeting. The community asks questions, debates, considers the proposals, and makes recommendations; then the entire year’s budget is voted upon – no absentee voting! To prepare for the meeting, voters are presented in advance with a printed budget proposal.

I could go on, but I won’t keep you with any more details. Thanks for reading and may the wind be at your back. Rose McConnell: If you see this, enjoy the change of venue – it’s been a long, good run.